Through the Open Door || Change My Mind Sequel || SP

The Sooner The Better

2 Weeks Later

Friday Nov. 21 2025

8:45 AM

Elora sat in her class, doing her work when Payton looked up from her iPad and tapped Elora's shoulder. The eldest Sheehan looked up away from her work and over to her classmate, intrigued. "Is your mommy picking me up from school today? That's what my new mommy told me," she asked. Elora nodded with a small smile.

"Yeah, and you get to meet my new brother. Not Zeekie, Baby Ezra. He's really cute, but he doesn't like when people play with him. Mommy said he's too little for that," she explained. "Is Revalee coming?" Elora asked, coloring on her busy work.

"Yeah. Our mommies have a show tonight and her daddy is still working on a tattoo. It's so big, he's been doing it for two days!" She exclaimed, making Elora's eyes go big. The only tattoo she ever saw was her mom's that was steadily growing with years for her kids, and her aunts, who was now turning it into a full blown half sleeve of memories.

Mallory knew that since she was having issues getting pregnant, and she wanted a kid, she was going to have to look into outside sources while she tried IVF. And it just so happened that Payton was bouncing between foster homes. She knew the child, obviously, through her father, and her heart broke when she was left alone after her father went to prison. So, she and Herb decided to foster her. They'd only had her two months, but they were already looking into starting the adoption process.

"My mommy goes back to work with your mommies in three weeks," she recited, from what her mother told Mallory on the phone. She was starting rehearsals on Monday, but nothing strenuous until she was cleared. For now, it would be vocals, another fitting, and some light choreography refreshers.

"That's so fun! Are you going to come to work with her like I do with my new mommy?" She asked. Elora shook her head, saddened.

"My neighbor, Chloey is babysitting us. She's really nice. And she has a little baby. His name is Jax. He's bigger than Baby Ezra," she shared. Sam had enlisted Chloey over the summer to help out with the kids for a few days and now, anytime she needed to leave the kids at home and no one was around, she would call Chloey. She was 17 now, she had graduated early, was very responsible, and the kids loved her. She was literally Sam's saving grace.

"Maybe my mommy can bring you and Ella if we have a sleepover!" She cheered. The girls were becoming closer after the whole molestation situation had subsided.

"That would be so fun," she said, before raising her hand. "Mrs. Oswell, can I go to the bathroom?" She kindly asked. The teacher looked up from her desk with a short nod, waving in the TA that assisted all four teachers in the pod. Elora's heart skipped, seeing the assistant causing the fear to paralyze her body and release her pee onto her chair. Elora sat frozen to her seat as the TA tried to pick her up from the chair. She instantly started to cry, and wrestle out of his grip.

"What's going on?" Farrah asked, coming to the corner. Mackenzie, the TA immediately backed off and fled from the classroom as the teacher knelt before her pupil.

"I don't want to go with Mr. Mackenzie," she cried. Farrah stood Elora up to see her pants, shoes, socks, and chair were soaked. The teacher looked around the wall to co-teacher and flagged her down.

"What's up?" Janet Gerhard asked, stepping between the clans to keep and eye on her own. Farrah stood up and moved with her back to the kids.

"I need to take Elora to the nurse and call her mother. Can you watch my class? I think this is a code Jane. But, don't let anyone else know just yet. I don't want it to get out and we lose the person," she whispered. Janet gasped a bit and nodded, keeping her place between the classes to keep an eye on everyone. "Elora can you come with me, so we can change and call mommy?" Farrah kindly asked.